Prologue
Saturday
Jesse was jolted awake in the wee hours, his skin damp, a trickle of cold sweat running down his temples. His heart was pounding like it did when he ran the marathon on the stadium track.
With a sharp exhale and sigh of relief, he propped himself against the pillows and turned his gaze towards the window. The sky was cloudless after a long day of relentless rain. The bright full moon cast the pine woods across the house in a violet glow, the tree tops shimmering in a pale silver.
He remembered another night like this many seasons ago when he and Leslie ran playfully in the farm, through the cow fields and towards their secret pathway leading to…Terabithia!
The fog in his mind partially lifted as a tinkling laughter like Christmas bells haunted him as a distant echo. In an instant it was overshadowed by a shrill echo sending goosebumps down his back.
An anguished scream for help, calling out, gurgling in a panic…fighting for life…
Leslie! Where on earth are you? Les..lieee….
*****
A faraway hoot of an owl broke his reverie. Miss Bessie was lowing in the farm shed, her cry a call of unbearable agony. Is that why he woke up with a start? Was Bessie moaning for a long time whilst he was in the deepest of sleep?
The night was still cold and icy as he threw back the quilt and bundled himself in a hooded jacket with shaky hands. He padded across the room on unsteady legs, trying to get a grip over himself. With a deep breath, Jess let himself quietly out the front door. The air was crisp with the aroma of the recent fresh rain and damp, earthy mud.
He strode over to the shed to check on Miss Bessie. The sight that greeted him calmed his frayed nerves. He was pleasantly surprised to see his adorable cow sprawled out on the warm hay with a snow white calf huddled against her side. The only other colour on it were its caramel brown ears twitching and flopping.
Miss Bessie had a baby! Leslie would have wanted it to be named Moo-Babe if Miss Bessie ever had a calf ---One day as she had wished with an endearing look in her eyes, a prayer in her heart.
Moo-Babe it would be named. For Leslie.
****
Moo-Babe was a handsome young boy who looked at him with a curious wonder and innocence in his doe-like eyes. He gazed all around the shed in his new surroundings.
Jesse was completely awestruck at this newcomer into their farm family and the vague, disturbing nightmare was temporarily cast aside.
The night sky was slowly turning into a pale grey and the creatures of the night were either roosting or had gone silent—making way for a new dawn and a bright morning.
Jesse had a sudden burst of energy. With newfound excitement, he raced towards the main house.
Flinging the door open, he barged into the kitchen to find the family gathered around the table for breakfast. “May Belle, mother, father! The babe is here! Moo-Babe has arrived sooner ! My, it's a beauty! Come to the shed, quick!
****
May Belle dropped the fork she was holding halfway to her mouth. It clunked noisily onto the plate full of steaming hot pancakes. She pushed the plate away with both her hands and it slid forward right to the centre hitting the crystal vase which held a bouquet of fresh daffodils.
“May Belle! Watch it”, her mother said firmly, raising a finger at her. May Belle glared at Jess whose wide toothed smile drooped as he looked around, puzzled at her reaction.
To be continued...
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